Strange way to continue this blog after a year since writing the last. Oh well. Here it is.
Why I hate Christmas…
A Christmas without gifts is the best Christmas of all…
All I want for Christmas is an empty Christmas tree…
Christmas as a boy…
How would I change Christmas?
The best gift of all…
What gift could you give to me to make me really happy…
These are just a few of the theme’s flowing through my mind as it continues to be active just after midnight on this Christmas Eve of 2009. Was it just the activity of today that has brought about these thoughts? No, this has been a struggle for quiet some many years. I’ve tried to look at Christmas from a different angle, but I haven’t been very successful. This year was not as bad as years gone by. There have been years when I have been, well, not quiet scrooge, but not a very happy camper none-the-less. Even to the point that my negative attitude gave way to making a sourful season for others. Tonight my wife even asked, “Do you think you could view Christmas differently?” To which I replied, “I don’t think so! I’ve tried and I just haven’t been able to”.
Now, I really don’t hate Christmas. Probably the better and more positive title would be ‘The Best Gift of All’. I don’t know exactly what that ‘best’ gift would be, but simplicity would come right up to the top.
Christmas origin, the christmas tree, mistletoe, presents, lights, Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas, advent celebration…does it really matter. Maybe it has its beginnings with pagan celebrations. I don’t think I care. For me right here, right now in the 21st century, I want to be thankful for God’s gift of Christ birth. Do I need a December 25th for that to take place? No! Some say, “Christ is the reason for the season”. Is Christ the reason for the season? To my recollection I’ve never seen a passage in the bible requesting that we celebrate the birth of Christ. That’s not to say that we can’t or shouldn’t celebrate His birth. Then others say that all the commercialization diminishes the true meaning and purpose of Christmas. Actually, I used to say that and still think it today. Is that what it is diminishing though? Perhaps it diminishes self respect more and adds a greater sense of greed. I don’t know…I don’t want to be a bah humbug or something. I just don’t feel right watching a present being opened, and it no sooner is unwrapped when the person is asking for their next one. And that one becomes unwrapped, sat down on the floor and again the reply of “is there another one”. Until they’re all opened and now that question becomes, “is that all?” Maybe that’s my question as well. Is that all that this day is about?
Each Christmas I try to add a spiritual/scripture component and this year was no different. But as in other years I feel as if it was just something necessary to do in order to pacify grandpa. “I’m glad that’s done”, or “can we unwrap the presents now?” This is not to say that I’m opposed to gifts. On the contrary, anyone who knows me knows that I love to give. Sure as with anyone, at times it hurts. I mean, all of us have given something at times and thought, “Boy I sure would have liked to bought such and such for myself”.
Maybe that’s a real reason to celebrate…what’s that? Acts 20:35 “for it is better to give than to receive”. Can giving and the gift and act of giving really be taught when the greater expectation is to receive…and to receive more?
So, what will Christmas 2010 be like? Will I change my attitude? Maybe, I don’t know! Or, is it possible that we can celebrate differently. What would different look like? I’m not sure, but two things I know…it would be simplified and the emphasis would be on giving and not receiving.
Good night!
Still thinking...I do a lot of study and reading on the internet. I've read some blogs, some Facebook, some...whatever. What is my place within this area that has been dubbed 'cyber space'? I'm still not sure. Guess since no one has read my blog yet...does it really matter? Perhaps that is it. What you say? What matters? What's important? We can really live lives that are fairly superficial. I want a life that matters. A life that is significant. Not well known. Not popular. Yet one that matters and IS significant. Maybe that's what I like about this video that Compassion put out done to the song of 'Dare You To Move' by Switchfoot. "I dare you to move, I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor...like today never happened".
